The flat lies in an old vaulted house in the Sassi. A barrel vault of tufa stone spans every room, whitewashed and left bare along the arches – the stone Matera is built from becomes part of the furnishings. Two doors open onto the same balcony, from which the view runs across the rooftops of the old town to the bell tower of the cathedral.

Living room. A bright room under the vault: a large linen-coloured sofa, a round wooden coffee table on a jute rug, a floor lamp for the evening. Opposite stands a sideboard with a television. By day the balcony door stays open, light reaches deep into the room, and a large picture of the Sassi hangs above the sofa.

Bedroom. A double bed with an upholstered headboard, two bedside tables with reading lamps, fresh towels on the bedspread. Here too the stone arches over the bed, with an armchair in the corner. The French window opens onto the same view: houses stepping down the slope and, behind them, the cathedral tower.

Kitchen and dining table. The kitchen is fully equipped – a four-burner gas hob, oven, extractor hood, sink and coffee machine, with a wooden worktop. Behind the hob sits a splashback of blue-and-white cement tiles of the kind you find all over southern Italy. At the wooden table with six chairs under the pendant lamp, breakfast can take its time, and anyone who shops at the market can cook for themselves.

Bathroom. A walk-in shower behind glass with a rain shower head, toilet and bidet, a countertop basin on a wooden shelf and a round mirror with a lit edge. The large stone-effect tiles pick up the colour of the tufa; towels and toiletries are provided.

Balcony. The real reason to stay here: a table for two with cushioned chairs, a little olive tree in a pot and the Sassi spread out in front of you. In the morning the sun stands over the old town, in the evening the city glows in warm light – and after sunset the windows of the cave houses light up one by one.

Location. Everything that matters is within walking distance: the rock churches of the Sasso Caveoso, Piazza San Pietro Caveoso, the ravine opposite and the restaurants of the old town. The lanes in the Sassi are steep and paved – sturdy shoes are part of the deal.

This is an example listing. The flat does not exist; the details only serve to show what a listing looks like in the directory.